16 1/2 Months

Branson, Branson, Branson,
Mommy has been having so much fun playing with you that she didn't blog about month 15 and she is letting 16 slip quickly through her fingers!! I can't believe how fast it is going and how much fun we are having! I know I say that every month is my favorite, but this is definately the hands down favorite...for now..hehe!

The main difference is in how much you are talking! This speech pathologist Momma loves to hear you learn new words and hear how your sounds are becoming clearer and clearer. I cannot even list all the words that you say now because they are so numerous. You repeat EVERYTHING we say and seem to understand most of it. Some words that you are using spontaneously that surprised me are "stuck" when you or a toy is stuck and "bounce" when you are bouncing on me or the bed. You just started putting the final /k/ on the end of words (rock, sock, stuck, book, etc.) and sometimes a /k/ ends up at the end of words were it doesnt belong. So funny! You pronounce it very hard, so it sounds like you are trying to capitolize the /k/ at the end or something. So great. You also kinda generalize the /k/ sound to the beginning of the word sometimes so sock sounds like "gock", etc. Ok, I know that everyone is tired of the artic talk, but I just want to record it so that I will always be able to hear your 16 month old voice in my head. Don't worry, I have some video too in case my head doesnt remember it all!

I have been pretty tired this month due to the pregnancy and it makes me sad when I am too tired to fully enjoy the time we have together. Daddy is pretty busy with his new director job, but he has helped a lot and we have spent quite a bit of time playing together as a family. Some of your favorite outings include the zoo and the mall to the kids play area. We recently took you to the zoo with Mammie and Pappy and you LOVED it! I'll have to post the pics when we get them from Mammie (they are in Alaska on a cruise...poor things!). You were so funny and would start to cry every time we left one animal to go to the next one. You could watch them all day!

You are eating great and are back to trying new things. There was a short time that you just wanted your tried and true favorites, but you have recently expanded your palate to include mac and cheese, spagetti, and some other things with beef. I am so lucky to have such a good eater.

You are still awesome on the sleeping thing. Only one nap now (about 12-2) and down for the night by 8:00. You will sleep until about 7-7:30 unless I have to wake you up for daycare. No fun, but you manage to make it work. You are still getting positive notes from day care (yesterday's said "Mood: happy and hugable. sweet, sweet boy!) and I love that you are having fun there. You favorite thing by far is the ride around the ACU campus on the "bye bye buggy." (One of those buggies that have space for 9 kiddos!)

You definately have a strong personality and we are working to teach you how to control your emotions in positive ways and to obey us when we ask you to do something. That is a hard thing when you want to go your own way, but you are getting there. Discipline is an area where Mommy struggles, so I am learning and Daddy and I pray that we will be able to parent you well.

Well, I will put pics in here when Mammie gets back and I can snag them from her. She has some way cute ones. Tonight I am taking you to your first football game, so we will see how that goes. I think you will like it!

We love you more and more every day, Branson. I didnt think it was possible to love someone else so much, but you continue to prove me wrong. I can't imagine what life was like without you!! I am so grateful that God gave us the opportunity to raise you! Love you, boy!

Momma and Dada